#3 Illinois State vs #2 SIU

[SoCalRedbird]

Illinois State 69
Southern Illinois 64

Need good, but not great games from our Big 3. Need Tinsley to continue rebounding and make some shots. I also think Bruninga needs to be a factor.

Disagree about Hein's defense over EC. Elijah's energy and quick feet could lock down Smithpeters.

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[ISU FAN 1]

This will be another grind. Need all players to click to win this one. Could use some David offense/defense in this one. Some are wondering why MH plays and it is because DM has stated several times throughout the year that he considers him one of the top defensive players on the team. I have to agree. He is not the fastest or quickest but he knows what to do on defense. EC gets beat constantly -- more than MH. I recall a couple of games ago that one of the commentators of an ISU game said that EC allows his man to blow by him all of the time and needs to learn to get in front of the guy he is guarding. If you ever watch, DM benches him because of blown defensive assignments not necessarily offensive misses and freshman mistakes. MH makes offensive blunders and doesn't get benched. Follow the defense. Defense is the hardest thing to learn in college and EC shows that he is still making freshman mistakes in this regard. MH is not as quick or fast as EC but he is smarter and knows where to be -- yes, he gets beat just like everyone else does but if you watch he is fundamentally sound on D. DM must value MHs defense and game experience more than ECs offense. Gut check time for the semi-final.

If we need ALL players to click, we are dead.

I agree on your Hein/Clarance assessment. Sadly, that’s why Hein and his deficiencies are being exposed. Because Dan’s other recruits aren’t good enough to get Hein off the floor. I have seen HS kids quit sports their senior year because they realized they were finally going to have to play, and realized how embarrassing that was going to be. That’s the trap Hein finds himself in. I have no doubt he brings tons of heart and effort, but this is D1 basketball. And it’s on Dan that the talent level isn’t higher.

 

[ISU FAN 1]

Doubt we see the officials we had last night in either game today. I expect both games to be light on the whistles today and they let am play.

I suspect Higgins is in town for the weekend?

 

[Tpguy]

This will be another grind. Need all players to click to win this one. Could use some David offense/defense in this one. Some are wondering why MH plays and it is because DM has stated several times throughout the year that he considers him one of the top defensive players on the team. I have to agree. He is not the fastest or quickest but he knows what to do on defense. EC gets beat constantly -- more than MH. I recall a couple of games ago that one of the commentators of an ISU game said that EC allows his man to blow by him all of the time and needs to learn to get in front of the guy he is guarding. If you ever watch, DM benches him because of blown defensive assignments not necessarily offensive misses and freshman mistakes. MH makes offensive blunders and doesn't get benched. Follow the defense. Defense is the hardest thing to learn in college and EC shows that he is still making freshman mistakes in this regard. MH is not as quick or fast as EC but he is smarter and knows where to be -- yes, he gets beat just like everyone else does but if you watch he is fundamentally sound on D. DM must value MHs defense and game experience more than ECs offense. Gut check time for the semi-final.

Very true.

where is this offense with EC you speak of?

 

[ISU FAN 1]

How many minutes did the main 6 SIU players play yesterday??

Tired legs perhaps...

Lloyd 36
Cook 33
Pippen 30
Smithpeters 29
Bartley 28
Fletcher 21

 

[Retire 12]

I'll take my chances with Smithpeters if it means our Big 3 stay on the court.

 

[cpacmel]

Loyola / bu

Today's officials: John Higgins, Kelly Self and Ed Crenshaw.

We had Self last night and he was terrible. Terrible probably isn’t doing it justice.

 

[Hamdonger]

I couldn't care less about minutes at this point and I doubt Dan does either. We're probably not going to the NIT (unless we have post-layover NCAA sympathy from last year) so this is it, baby.

Sudden death. No limits. Especially on our Big3. 35 plus minutes is fine with me out of PhillipKeyLeek. Heck, 40 minutes. Only reason I don't see big minutes is if Key is hurting.

One thing that freaks me out just a wee bit is that SIU turned MY into a turnover factory. Do I dare believe that MY has a monster game?????

 

[Redbirdalum_15]

Hope the fans are better. There was some real jerkoffs in our fan base who was absolutely embarrassing last night. It was bad.

 

[Matt Hein Fan]

Birds 73
SIU 60

Tinsley is on point along with the usual Big 3, results in a chance to win the Valley for the first time in 20 years.

 

[Hamdonger]

Hope the fans are better. There was some real jerkoffs in our fan base who was absolutely embarrassing last night. It was bad.

Been there done that. My present self would probably have to kick my past self's butt from 25-30 yrs ago.

 

[ISU FAN 1]

Hope the fans are better. There was some real jerkoffs in our fan base who was absolutely embarrassing last night. It was bad.

How so? Elaborate.

 

[ISU FAN 1]

Granted, it’s minimal, but ISU is the only team with any Arch Madness Title game experience. Fayne and Evans, and others, know how to get there, and are less likely to have the moment overwhelm them or be too big for them.

 

[ISU FAN 1]

It’s clear Dan has given the green light to our shooters, but some of the late game, mid shot clock, 3s we chucked last night seemed of questionable intelligence. Game situation and clock management needs to be part of the equation.

 

[Hamdonger]

I sure hope Dan studies these pre-game cliff notes which we provide him all season long.

 

[ISU FAN 1]

We should take up a collection to send Krutwig pizzas to get that 30 extra pounds back on him. He’s gonna be trouble.

 

[KingO]

I like our chances today. Will be nice to keep milik out of foul trouble and get more than 22 minutes from him. Side note, Missouri state holding press conference at 5:30.


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[ISU FAN 1]

The top to bottom parity of this league seems unparalleled to me. Every game in this tourney has been competitive.

Losing elite teams, Shox & Jays, contributes to that, but the bottom is better IMO.

 

[ISU FAN 1]

I like our chances today. Will be nice to keep milik out of foul trouble and get more than 22 minutes from him. Side note, Missouri state holding press conference at 5:30.


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How dare they attempt to upstage our time slot.

 

[ISU FAN 1]

Custer struggling this weekend. Probably waiting to erupt on us.